FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com november 20, 2014 • The QUEE NS Courier 35 ▶around QUEENS CHANGES COMING TO CONTROVERSIAL OZONE PARK PEDESTRIAN PLAZA BY SALVATORE LICATA slicata@queenscourier.com @Sal_Licata1 A controversial pedestrian plaza in Ozone Park will be downsized following complaints from local business owners. Due to community outreach programs to address the concerns Diaz said. “Of course you want more space, but we are more about having peace with the community.” Business owners have CUTLER’S LIGHTING Over 50 Years Experience REPAIRS • REWIRING • RE-FINISHING • LAMP SHADES LAMP SHADE SALE be saving you money. 10% OFF OFF ANY PURCHASE With Coupon. Not combinable – New Orders Only. Limit 1 per customer. $150.00 max for discount. Excludes Repairs, Refi nishing, Rewiring. Exp. 12/15/2014 LYNBROOK 817 Sunrise Hwy (2 Blocks west of Peninsula Blvd.) 516-887-1300 YELLOW TAG SALE Up to 50% OFF on Select Models GREAT NECK 120 Northern Blvd. 516-482-1919 12 years from now, this LED bulb will still CUTLER’S LIGHTING CUTLER’S LIGHTING of the plaza, which is located on Drew Street and 101st Avenue, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is removing a portion of the plaza to restore metered parking along the block, a DOT spokeswoman said. The plaza was installed about a year ago and is run and maintained by the Brooklyn based nonprofit Bangladeshi American Community Development and Youth Services (BACDYS). Once in place, it took up about nine parking spaces and cut off twoway traffic on 101st Avenue. But giving back the parking spots is fine with Darma Diaz, the chief operating officer at BACDYS, if it makes for a more positive working relationship with the store merchants. “We want this to be a positive part of the community,” HEATING SUPER DISCOUNT OIL Premium #2 Fuel • Full Service • PROMPT DELIVERY • TUNE UP & EFFICIENCY TESTS C.O.D. $10 OFF with this ad 718 647-1271 WE WILL BEAT ANY CURRENTLY ADVERTISED PRICE Absolute Lowest Prices EMAIL: GOTOILNYC.COM complained that since it was installed, their businesses have had one of the worst years ever. “This plaza has totally crippled my business,” said Ahmad Ubayda, owner of the 99 Cent Ozone Park Discount Hardware store on the corner of the block, back in July when The Courier first reported on it. “This has been my worst year of business because they took away parking spaces for my customers but aren’t even using that area of the plaza.” The portion of the plaza along 101st Avenue that the DOT will be removing is the least used part of it. Most of the tables, chairs and umbrellas are not put in that area, but are placed on Drew Street, where it once crossed over from 101st Avenue to Liberty Avenue. But some stores still want the whole plaza removed because they feel the two-way traffic is necessary. “I won’t be happy unless the whole thing is gone,” said one worker at the 99 cent store. “We need two-way traffic again.” The removal of the portion of the plaza along 101st Avenue will take place by the end of the year, weather permitting, according to the DOT spokeswoman. THE COURIER/Photo by Salvatore Licata
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